Talihina man may face murder charges

A Talihina man may face murder charges after a woman he reportedly mortally wounded passed away Friday.
Kristi D. Ferguson, 24, of Pocola, suffered second and third degree burns to more than 80 percent of her body on Febraury 18, when Donnie L. Harris Jr., 29, used an ignitable substance to set her on fire. Ferguson was being treated for burns at an Oklahoma City Hospital when she succumbed to her injuries.
Harris is currently being held on a $500,000 bond at the LeFlore County Detention Center on first degree arson charges until the additional charge of first degree murder is filed against him.
According to Oklahoma State Fire Marshal Investigator Tony Rust, Harris, along Ferguson, three other adults and a child had been inside the home when the incident occurred. Rust stated in a phone interview that Harris had used an ignitable substance to set his girlfriend on fire which subsequently caused a house fire.
Ferguson reportedly ran from the home after Harris' family attempted to extinguish the fire with water but only managed to cause the fire to spread. According to Rust, Ferguson ran to a neighbors home where she received help until an ambulance could arrive.
Ferguson was transported by LeFlore County Emergency Medical Services to a McAlester hospital and was later flown to Baptist Medical Center Burn Unit in OK City. None of the other occupants of the home were injured in the incident.